Concealed drainage apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a drain and drain concealment structure, methods of installation and use, and resulting shower, bath and other areas and spaces from which it is desired to drain liquids. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a drain body adapted to be connected to a conventional prefabricated waterproof shower or bath pan. The drain body may be connected to the shower pan by any suitable means, such as but not by way of limitation by being integrally molded therewith during manufacture of the pan, by connection post-manufacture or in situ in the field. Other embodiments do not require use of a prefabricated waterproof shower or bath pan. The preferred drain body is comprised of a waterproof structure having a floor section which defines a drain aperture, and a peripheral sidewall section. Structure for releasably attaching a drain cover to the drain body is employed. The cover, which is defined by a peripheral edge, is adapted to lie in registry with, and thereby cover, a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal the drain aperture and as much of the drain body floor as is practicable. When connected to the drain body, the peripheral edge of the cover is spaced from the drain body sidewall so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture. In this way, water is permitted to exit the shower or bath without the drain aperture being visible. The drain apparatus of this invention is preferably utilized as part of a tileable shower or bath arrangement, whereby flooring material such as tile may be placed onto the shower or bath pan up to the peripheral sidewall of the drain body, and additional flooring may be placed upon the drain cover. In this way, the drain is fully operational yet unnoticeable. Interchangeable drain covers may be provided to permit alteration of the decorative appearance of the drain.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application is related to co-pending and commonlyowned U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, Attorney Docket No.825343-51, entitled “Cover for Concealed Drain,” U.S. patent applicationSer. No. ______, Attorney Docket No. 825343-52, entitled “ImprovedTileable Drain and Cover Apparatus,” U.S. patent application Ser. No.______, Attorney Docket No. 825343-53, entitled “Kits from which may beManufactured Drainable Structures with Concealed Drains,” and U.S.Patent Application No. ______, Attorney Docket No. 825343-54, entitled“Methods for Installing Drainable Structures with Concealed Drains,”filed on even date with the present patent application, the entireteachings of which being hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to shower pans, drains, anddrain tops, grates or covers used in connection with a shower, showerpan, bath, sink, floor, and other surface or fixture, and moreparticularly to a drain, and to a drain apparatus attached to or used inconjunction with such drain or other drains, which permits a drain top,grate, or cover to be securely attached to and/or over all or a portionof the drain, and such drain top, grate or cover to (i) be tiled; (ii)be removable; (iii) be interchangeable with other drain tops, grates orcovers; (iv) allow the drainage of water at or around one or more of theperimeter edges of the drain top, grate or cover; (v) allow the drainageof water in a gap between one or more of the perimeter edges of thetiled or untiled drain top, grate or cover and another grate free tiledor untiled surface, regardless of the orientation of such surface (e.g.vertical, horizontal, etc.) surrounding or adjacent to the drain top,grate or cover; (vi) allow the drainage of water in a gap which iscreated when the drain top, grate, or cover is placed in registry withthe drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain top, grate or cover isspaced from a drain recess peripheral sidewall (defined by the floor offof which liquid is to be drained) so as to define a gap therebetweenthrough which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture;(vii) allow such drain and drain tops, grates or covers to be used andto be adapted for use in connection with (A) prefabricated shower pans(such as those described herein), and/or (B) a partially prefabricatedshower pan (such as those described herein), and/or (C) a mortar bed orother hand made shower pan floor (such as those described herein),and/or (D) any other tiled or tileable surface or fixture; and (viii)substantially conceal from view the drain aperture.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The inventor is unaware of any shower, bath, shower pan, sink, floor, ordrain therefore which employs an attachable, removable, andinterchangeable drain top, grate or cover which can be covered withfloor or wall coverings such as tile, stone, concrete, stucco, or anyother floor or wall coverings, etc, and which permits water to drain (i)at one or more of the grate free perimeter edges of the tiled ortileable drain top, grate, or cover, and/or (ii) in a gap between one ormore of the grate free perimeter edges of the tiled or tileable draintop, grate or cover and another grate free surface with tile, stone,and/or other floor or wall coverings, and which makes the drain featureessentially undetectable to ordinary observation. Such an arrangement ishighly desirable from an aesthetic perspective. A similar arrangement inwhich the drain top, grate or cover is not removable would also bedesirable.

Therefore, a need exists for, among other things, drains and drain tops,grates and covers (i) which are adapted to be covered with decorativecoverings such as floor and wall coverings, (ii) which are attachable tothe floor or other surface at or around the drain such as a drain of ashower pan, (iii) which drain tops, grates and covers are optionallyremovable and interchangeable with other drain tops, grates and covers,(iv) which permit water to drain through a gap between one or more ofthe perimeter sides of the tiled or tileable drain top, grate or coverand another adjacent or surrounding tiled or tileable surface, (v) whichpermit water or other liquid to drain in a gap created when the draincover is placed in registry with the drain body, such that theperipheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain recessperipheral sidewall so as to define a gap therebetween through whichwater or other liquid may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture,(vi) which permit the drainage of water through a shower, bath, sink,floor or other drain while giving the appearance that there is actuallyno drain, and (vii) which allow the drains and the drain tops, gratesand covers to be used and to be adapted for use in connection with (A) aprefabricated shower pan (such as those defined herein), and/or (B) aprefabricated shower pan (such as those defined herein), and/or (C) amortar bed or other hand made shower floor (such as those definedherein), and/or (D) tiled or tileable surface or fixture (such as thosedefined herein).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to shower pans, and drains and draintops, grates or covers used in connection with a shower, shower pan,bath, sink, floor and other surface or fixture, and which drain tops,grates or covers at least partially cover the drain apparatus, whichdrain tops, grates or covers are attachable, and optionally removableand/or interchangeable with other drain tops, grates or covers, whichdrain tops, grates or covers can be covered with tile, stone, or anyother floor or wall covering, and which permits water to drain (i) atone or more of the grate free perimeter edges of the tiled or tileabledrain top, grate or cover and/or the grate free perimeter edges of thedrain apparatus, and/or (ii) through a gap between one or more of theperimeter edges of the tiled or tileable drain top, grate or cover andanother adjacent or surrounding horizontal and/or vertical tiled ortileable surface, and/or (iii) which permits water or other liquid todrain in a gap created when the drain cover is placed in registry withthe drain body, such that the peripheral edge of the drain cover isspaced from the drain recess peripheral sidewall so as to define a gaptherebetween through which water or other liquid may pass while flowingtoward the drain aperture, and (iv) which permits ample drainage fromthe shower, shower pan, bath, sink, floor, fixture or other drainstructure while making the drain apparatus essentially undetectable. Adrain body defines a drain aperture which is adapted to be placed inregistry with a shower, shower pan, bath, sink, floor, fixture or otherdrain conduit. A drain top, grate, or cover is associated with the drainbody in such a way that it covers substantially the entirety of thedrain aperture, allows the drainage of water along the perimeter edgesor within the body of the drain top, grate or cover, and/or may bemanufactured so as to be attachable and removable from the drain body,and/or interchangeable with other drain tops, grates or covers, andpermits the water or other liquid to drain in a grate free area at oneor more of the perimeter edges of the drain top, grate or cover and ordrain apparatus, and/or in a gap between one or more grate free edges ofthe tiled drain top, grate or cover and another adjacent tiled ortileable surface, including but not limited to an adjacent tiled showerpan surface, shower floor surface, bath, sink, fixture, floor, or othertiled or tileable surface, while essentially making the drain apparatusundetectable from view yet permitting water to flow into and through thedrain aperture. The floor or wall covering may be attached to the draintop, grate or cover at any time, including, but not limited to, (i) ator about the time of manufacture of the drain and/or the drain top,grate or cover, (ii) at or about the time of the manufacture of theshower pan, shower, floor, sink, bath, fixture or other tiled ortileable surface or other apparatus into which the drain has been orwill be integrated, (iii) at or about the time the drain apparatus, orother article or fixture into which the drain has been or will beintegrated, is installed over a drain aperture in the field, and/or (iv)at any time after the drain and/or a the shower pan, floor, sink, bathfixture or other surface into which the drain has been integrated, isinstalled in the field.

In one embodiment, a drain body is integrally formed with aprefabricated shower pan (as defined herein) at the time of manufactureof the shower pan, such as, but not limited to, the type ofprefabricated shower pan disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,777 entitled“Pre-Fabricated Shower Module and Method of Shower Construction.” Thedrain body defines a drain aperture which is adapted to be placed inregistry with the floor of the prefabricated shower pan in such a mannerthat the drain is sufficiently recessed below the shower pan floor toaccommodate a tileable drain top, grate, or cover. A drain top, grate orcover, which can be covered with stone, tile, concrete, stucco or otherfloor or wall covering, is associated with the drain body and theprefabricated shower pan surface in such a way that (i) it covers thedrain so that an upper surface of the drain cover is substantiallycoplanar with an upper surface of the adjacent floor of theprefabricated shower pan surface, (ii) both the prefabricated shower panand the drain top, grate or cover can be covered with tile, stone, orother floor or wall covering, so that the drain will blend into theflooring material used on the surrounding prefabricated shower panfloor, (iii) the drain top, grate or cover is attachable to the drain,which drain is integrated into the prefabricated shower pan, (iv) thedrain top, grate or cover is optionally removable and/or interchangeablewith other drain tops, grates and covers, (v) the drain top, grate orcover permits water to drain into the drain apparatus along the outsideperimeter of the drain top, grate or cover and/or the drain apparatus,(vi) the drain top, grate or cover also permits water or other liquid todrain in a gap created when the drain cover is placed in registry withthe drain body, such that the peripheral edge of the drain cover isspaced from the drain recess peripheral sidewall defined by the showerpan so as to define a gap therebetween through which water or otherliquid may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, and (vii) thedrain top, grate or cover permits water to drain into a gap between oneor more of the perimeter tiled or tileable edges of the drain top, grateor cover and one or more of the adjacent tiled or tileable perimeteredges of the drain recess in the prefabricated shower pan, (viii) thedrain is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of theprefabricated shower pan floor so that an upper surface of the tiled ortileable drain top, grate, or cover when attached in registry with thedrain is substantially coplanar with the adjacent upper surface of thetiled or tileable prefabricated shower pan floor, and the lower surfaceof the attached drain top, grate or cover and the upper surface of thedrain body floor are spaced so that a sufficient gap is created so as toallow for water to drain therethrough into the drain aperture, (ix) thedrain top, grate or cover substantially covers the entirety of the drainaperture and the drain apparatus from view while permitting water toflow into and through the drain apparatus and aperture, (x) optionally,a removable strainer can be placed between the drain top, grate or coverand the drain aperture. The drain top grate or cover can be made of anyappropriate material including but not limited to plastic such as PVC orABS, polyurethane, polyethylene, metal such as copper, cast iron,aluminum, steel, or building materials such as stone, concrete, marble,cultured marble, mortar, stucco or any other material.

In another embodiment, a drain body is integrally formed with apartially prefabricated shower pan of the type which does not have anintegrated drain, such that the drain is attached to the partiallyprefabricated shower pan sometime after manufacture, and in many casesin the field at or about the time of installation of the partiallyprefabricated shower pan. The drain body defines a drain aperture whichis adapted to be placed in registry with the floor of a partiallyprefabricated shower pan in such a manner that the drain body issufficiently recessed into or below the partially prefabricated showerpan floor to accommodate a drain top, grate or cover. A drain top, grateor cover, which can be covered with stone, tile, concrete, stucco orother floor or wall covering, is associated with the drain body in sucha way that (i) it covers all or a portion of the drain so that an uppersurface of the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an uppersurface of the floor of the partially prefabricated shower pan surface,(ii) both the partially prefabricated shower pan and the drain top,grate or cover can be covered with tile, stone, or other floor or wallcovering, so that it will blend into the flooring material used on thesurrounding partially prefabricated shower pan floor, (iii) the draintop, grate or cover is attachable to the drain or the partiallyprefabricated shower pan, (iv) the drain top, grate or cover isoptionally removable and/or interchangeable with other drain tops,grates and covers, (v) the drain top, grate or cover permits water todrain into the drain apparatus along the outside perimeter of the draintop, grate or cover and/or the drain apparatus, (vi) the drain top,grate or cover also permits water or other liquid to drain in a gapcreated when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body,such that the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from thedrain recess peripheral sidewall so as to define a gap therebetweenthrough which water or other liquid may pass while flowing toward thedrain aperture, and (vii) the drain top, grate or cover permits water todrain into a gap between one or more of the perimeter tiled or tileableedges of the drain top, grate or cover and one or more of the adjacenttiled or tileable perimeter edges of the drain recess in the partiallyprefabricated shower pan, (viii) the drain is sufficiently recessed intoor below an upper surface of the partially prefabricated shower panfloor so that an upper surface of the tiled or tileable drain top,grate, or cover when attached in substantial registry with the drain issubstantially coplanar with the adjacent upper surface of the tiled ortileable partially prefabricated shower pan floor, and the lower surfaceof the attached drain top, grate or cover and the upper surface of thedrain body floor are spaced so that a sufficient gap is created so as toallow for water to drain therethrough into the drain aperture, (ix) thedrain top, grate or cover covers substantially the entirety of the drainaperture and the drain apparatus from view while permitting water toflow into and through the drain apparatus and aperture, and (x)optionally, a removable strainer can be placed between the drain top,grate or cover and the drain aperture. The cover can be made of anyappropriate material including but not limited to plastic such as PVC orABS, polyurethane, polyethylene, metal such as copper, cast iron,aluminum, steel, or building materials such as stone, concrete, marble,cultured marble, mortar, stucco or any other material.

In another embodiment, a drain body is integrally formed with a mortarbed or other hand-made shower pan, bath or other floor (as hereindefined) which may or may not be constructed in conjunction with a vinylliner or other water proofing membrane(s). The drain body defines adrain aperture which is adapted to be placed in registry with the floorof a mortar bed or other hand-made shower floor, bath floor, floor, orother surface in such a manner that the drain body is sufficientlyrecessed in the mortar bed or below the shower, bath, or other floor toaccommodate a drain top, grate, or cover. A drain top, grate or cover,which can be covered with stone, tile, concrete, stucco or other flooror wall covering, is associated with the drain body in such a way that(i) it covers the drain so that an upper surface of the drain cover issubstantially coplanar with an upper surface of the floor of the mortarbed or other hand-made shower pan floor, (ii) both the mortar bed orother hand-made shower pan floor and the drain top, grate or cover canbe covered with tile, stone, or other floor or wall covering, so thatthe drain top, grate or cover will blend into the flooring material usedon the surrounding mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor, (iii)the drain top, grate or cover is attachable to the drain or the mortarbed or other hand-made shower pan floor, (iv) the drain top, grate orcover is optionally removable and/or interchangeable with other draintops, grates and covers, (v) the drain top, grate or cover permits itswater to drain into the drain apparatus along the outside perimeter ofthe drain top, grate or cover and/or the drain apparatus, (vi) the draintop, grate or cover also permits water or other liquid to drain in a gapcreated when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body,such that the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from thedrain recess peripheral sidewall so as to define a gap therebetweenthrough which water or other liquid may pass while flowing toward thedrain aperture, and (vii) the drain top, grate or cover also permitswater to drain into a gap between one or more of the perimeter tiled ortileable edges of the drain top, grate or cover and one or more of theadjacent tiled or tileable perimeter edges of the drain recess portionof the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor, (viii) the drainis sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the mortarbed or other hand made shower pan floor so that an upper surface of thetiled or tileable drain top, grate, or cover when attached in registrywith the drain is substantially coplanar with the adjacent upper surfaceof the tiled or tileable mortar bed or other hand made shower pan, andthe lower surface of the attached drain top, grate or cover and theupper surface of the drain body floor are spaced so that a sufficientgap is created so as to allow for water to drain therethrough into thedrain aperture, (ix) the drain top, grate or cover substantially coversthe entirety of the drain aperture and the all or a portion of the drainapparatus from view while permitting water to flow into and through thedrain apparatus and aperture, and (x) optionally, a removable strainercan be placed between the drain top, grate or cover and the drainaperture. The cover can be made of any appropriate material includingbut not limited to plastic such as PVC or ABS, polyurethane,polyethylene, metal such as copper, cast iron, aluminum, steel, orbuilding materials such as stone, concrete, marble, cultured marble,mortar, stucco or any other material.

In yet another embodiment, a drain body is integrally formed with atiled or tileable surface or fixture that has a drain, in such a mannerthat the drain body defines a drain aperture which is adapted to beplaced in registry with a tiled or tileable surface or fixture that hasa drain in such a manner as to be sufficiently recessed to accommodate adrain top, grate, or cover. A drain top, grate or cover, which can becovered with stone, tile, concrete, stucco or other floor or wallcovering, is associated with the drain body in such a way that (i) itcovers the drain so that an upper surface of the drain cover issubstantially coplanar with an upper surface of the tiled or tileablesurface or fixture, (ii) both the tiled or tileable surface or fixtureand the drain top, grate or cover can be covered with tile, stone, orother floor or wall covering, so that it will blend into the flooringmaterial used on the surrounding tiled or tileable surface or fixture,(iii) the drain top, grate or cover is attachable to the drain or thetiled or tileable surface or fixture, (iv) the drain top, grate or coveris optionally removable and/or interchangeable with other drain tops,grates and covers, (v) the drain top, grate or cover permits water todrain into the drain apparatus along the outside perimeter of the draintop, grate or cover and/or the drain apparatus, (vi) the drain top,grate or cover also permits water or other liquid to drain in a gapcreated when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body,such that the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from thedrain recess peripheral sidewall so as to define a gap therebetweenthrough which water or other liquid may pass while flowing toward thedrain aperture, and (vii) the drain top, grate or cover permits water todrain into a gap between one or more of the perimeter tiled or tileableedges of the drain top, grate or cover and one or more of the tiled ortileable perimeter edges of the drain recess portion of the tiled ortileable surface or fixture, (viii) the drain is sufficiently recessedinto or below an upper surface of the tiled or tileable surface orfixture so that an upper surface of the tiled or tileable drain top,grate, or cover when attached in substantial registry with the drain issubstantially coplanar with the adjacent upper surface of the tiled ortileable surface or fixture, and the lower surface of the attached draintop, grate or cover and the upper surface of the drain body floor arespaced so that a sufficient gap is created so as to allow for water todrain therethrough into the drain aperture, (ix) the drain top, grate orcover covers substantially the entirety of the drain aperture and thedrain apparatus from view while permitting water to flow into andthrough the drain apparatus and aperture, and (x) optionally, aremovable strainer can be placed between the drain top, grate or coverand the drain aperture, The cover can be made of any appropriatematerial including but not limited to plastic such as PVC or ABS,polyurethane, polyethylene, metal such as copper, cast iron, aluminum,steel, or building materials such as stone, concrete, marble, culturedmarble, mortar, stucco or any other material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front/top right perspective view of an assembled shower orbath drain apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a front/top right perspective exploded view of the shower orbath drain apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a front/top right perspective view of a drain body inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of the drain body in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom elevational view of a drain cover in accordance withan exemplary embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an optional drain insert adaptable foruse with this invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the optional drain insert connected tothe drain body.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the assembledshower or bath drain apparatus in accordance with the first embodimentof the present invention taken along line A-A of FIG. 20,

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the assembledshower or bath drain apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment ofthe present invention taken along line A-A of FIG. 20.

FIG. 10 is a perspective exploded view of the shower or bath drain bodyshown in FIG. 7 with an example of an alternative drain strainerexploded therefrom.

FIG. 11 is a perspective exploded view of the shower or bath drain bodyshown in FIG. 10 with an example of an alternative drain strainerattached thereto.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the assembledshower or bath drain apparatus shown in FIG. 8 with a modified floor anddrain insert assembly taken along line A-A of FIG. 20.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the assembledshower or bath drain apparatus shown in FIG. 9 with a modified floor anddrain insert assembly taken along line A-A of FIG. 20.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side elevational view similar to that shownin FIG. 8 but where strainer 40 and strainer cover 42 are replaced bystrainer 110.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional elevational view similar to that shown inFIG. 8, showing the use of spacers 190 to adjust the level of cover Crelative to pan floor surface P,

FIG. 16 is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the drainapparatus in this invention.

FIG. 17 is a bottom elevational view of a drain cover in accordance withthe embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a prefabricated shower pan andintegrated drain body prior to being covered with flooring material inaccordance with this invention,

FIG. 19 is the prefabricated shower pan of FIG. 18 after having beencovered with flooring material.

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of the pan and drain arrangement of FIG. 18.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the assembledshower or bath drain apparatus in accordance with a modified embodimentof the present invention taken along line A-A of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the shower or bath drainapparatus in accordance with the modified embodiment of the inventionshown in FIG. 21 showing the orientation thereof relative to a partiallyprefabricated shower pan floor.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the assembledshower or bath drain apparatus in accordance with the modifiedembodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 21 installed with a partiallyprefabricated shower pan floor, waterproof membrane/liner and floorcovering.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S)

Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments that are in accordancewith the present invention, it should be observed that the embodimentsreside primarily in combinations of structural components andinstallation and use steps related to implementing apparatus and methodsfor a drain comprising a drain body which defines a drain aperture whichis adapted to be placed in registry with a floor or other drain conduitin such a manner as to be sufficiently recessed within or below (i) aprefabricated shower pan floor, (ii) the floor of a partiallyprefabricated shower pan, (iii) a mortar bed or other hand made showerpan floor, (iv) a tiled or tileable surface or fixture, to accommodate adrain top, grate, or cover. A drain top, grate, or cover, which can becovered with stone, tile or other floor or wall coverings is associatedwith the drain body in such a way that (i) it covers all or a portion ofthe drain body so that the drain top, grate or cover is substantiallycoplanar with the untiled floor surface of (a) a prefabricated showerpan floor, (b) a partially prefabricated shower pan, (c) a mortar bed orother hand made shower pan floor, (d) a tiled or tileable surface orfixture; (ii) both the drain top, grate or cover and the surfacesurrounding or adjacent to the drain top, grate or cover can be coveredwith tile, stone, or other floor or wall covering, so that they willblend into the flooring material used on the area surrounding oradjacent to the drain top, grate or cover; (iii) the drain top, grate orcover is attachable to the drain or the area surrounding the drain top,grate or cover; (iv) the drain top, grate or cover may be removableand/or interchangeable with other drain tops, grates and covers; (v) thedrain top, grate or cover permits water to drain into and though thedrain apparatus along the grate free outside perimeter edge(s) of thedrain top, grate or cover and/or the drain apparatus; (vi) the draintop, grate or cover is sized and shaped to create a grate free gapbetween the outside perimeter edges of the drain top, grate or coverand/or the drain apparatus and one or more of the tiled or untiledperimeter edges or surfaces of the area surrounding the drain top, grateor cover to permit water to drain into and though the drain apparatus;(vii) the drain top, grate or cover also permits water or other liquidto drain in a gap created when the drain cover is placed in registrywith the drain body, such that the peripheral edge(s) of the drain coveris spaced from the drain recess peripheral sidewall so as to define agap therebetween through which water or other liquid may pass whileflowing toward the drain aperture; (viii) the drain is sufficientlyrecessed into or below an upper surface of (A) a prefabricated showerpan, or (B) a partially prefabricated shower pan, or (C) a mortar bed orother hand-made shower pan floor, or (D) a tiled or tileable surface orfixture, so that an upper surface of the tiled or tileable drain top,grate, or cover when attached in substantial registry with the drain issubstantially coplanar with the adjacent tileable or tiled uppersurfaces of (A) a prefabricated shower pan, or (B) a partiallyprefabricated shower pan, or (C) a mortar bed or other hand made showerpan floor, or (D) a tiled or tileable surface or fixture, and the lowersurface of the attached drain top, grate or cover and the upper surfaceof the drain body floor are spaced so that a gap is created which issufficient to allow for water to drain therethrough into the drainaperture, (ix) the drain top, grate or cover substantially covers theentirety of the drain aperture and the drain apparatus from view whilepermitting water to drain into and through the drain apparatus and drainaperture, and (x) a removable strainer can be part of the drain top,grate or cover, or placed between the drain top, grate or cover and thedrain body and/or the drain aperture.

Accordingly, the apparatus components have been represented whereappropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only thosespecific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments ofthe present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with detailsthat will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the arthaving the benefit of the description herein.

In this document, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top”and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entityor element from another entity or element without necessarily requiringor implying any physical or logical relationship or order between suchentities or elements.

The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “comprise” or any other variationthereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that aprocess, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elementsdoes not include only those elements, but may include other elements notexpressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, orapparatus.

The term “plurality of” as used in connection with any object or actionmeans two or more of such object or action.

A claim element proceeded by the article “a” or “an” does not, withoutmore constraints, preclude the existence of additional identicalelements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes theelement.

Terms such as “wall or flooring material,” “floor and wall coverings”and “covering material” mean, encompass and comprise one or more ofceramic, natural stone or other tile, stone, granite, marble, culturedmarble, or other stone surface, non slip finished shower surfaces suchas vinyl or plastic, stucco, concrete and mortar surfaces which may bemixed with adhesives or other substances, and any other material ormaterials used to provide a finished surface.

The tem “tiled” means, encompasses, and comprises any surface havingfloor or wall covering materials, such as one or more of ceramic,natural stone or other tile, stone, granite, marble, cultured marble. orother stone surface, non slip finished shower surfaces such as vinyl orplastic, stucco, concrete and mortar surfaces which may be mixed withadhesives or other substances, and any other material or materials usedto provide a finished surface

The term “non tileable” means, encompasses, and comprises one or moresurfaces or structural components which are not capable of receivingwall or floor material or were not designed, marketed or sold with theintention of being tileable or tiled, and in fact are not tiled.

The term “tileable” means, encompasses, and comprises one or moresurfaces or structural components which are capable of receiving wall orflooring material, whether through the use of adhesives or any othermeans of attachment, such as clips, straps or other mechanical fasteningstructure(s).

The term “prefabricated shower pan” means, encompasses, and comprisesany manufactured or fabricated tileable or tiled shower pan to whichfloor or wall coverings are to be adhered and that has one or moredrains integrally associated into it at the time of manufacture orfabrication, and may also have integrated therein at the time ofmanufacture or fabrication a partial or complete floor (which may bepitched), a splash wall, a curb, and/or a barrier free entrance.

The term “partially prefabricated shower pan” means, encompasses, andcomprises any manufactured or fabricated tileable or tiled shower pan towhich floor or wall coverings are to be adhered, that does not have adrain integrally associated into it at the time of manufacture orfabrication, including (A) a manufactured or fabricated one piece showerpan with component elements such as a floor, a splash wall, a curband/or a barrier free entrance integrated at the time of manufacture, or(B) a manufactured or prefabricated multi piece shower pan kit or setwhich when assembled and installed in the field comprises a one piece ormulti-piece shower floor and which may include one or more componentelements such as a splash wall, pitched floor, a curb, a barrier freeentrance, or portions thereof, and, in either case A or B above, thedrain is installed in the floor of the shower pan at any time aftermanufacture and prefabrication, usually in the field and/or at or aroundthe time of assembly and installation of the shower pan.

Terms such as “mortar bed or other hand-made shower pan floor” and“mortar bed and shower pan” mean, encompass and comprise a shower floor,bath floor, a shower pan, a shower base, floor or other surface that ispartially of fully formed by a bed of mortar or like material installedin the field or elsewhere on any substrate, including but not limited toconcrete, wood, or steel, into which, in conjunction with, or belowwhich, a drain is installed, and the mortar bed may be waterproofedusing a vinyl liner, a membrane liner, hot mopping, or otherwisewaterproofed, and floor or wall coverings are or may be adhered to thesurface of the mortar bed.

Terms such as “tiled and/or tileable surface or fixture” and “surface orfixture” mean, encompass, and comprise any fully or partially tiledand/or tileable bathtub, bathroom floor, shower floor, sink, fountain,fixture, floor, or other surface that has a drain.

The term “non tileable and/or untiled surface” means, encompasses orcomprises a surface such as a floor, wall, shower floor, bath floor,sink, shower pan, or any other surface which has a drain integrated orassociated with it, and such surface is not tileable, nor is it designedto be tiled or tileable, and/or such surface is in fact not tiled.

The term “drain” means, encompasses and comprises any kind of drain madeof any kind of material, including but not limited to metal or plastics,and with any kind of connection to a drain system such as a waste watersystem, including but not limited to a trench drain, a solvent welddrain, a welded connection drain, a hub (outside caulk) drain, a spigotdrain, a hubless spigot drain, a hubless drain, an inside caulk (gasket)drain, a hubbed (push on) drain, a compression drain, and a clampingring drain

Terms such as “drain top, grate or cover” and “drain cover” mean,encompass and comprise anything that covers all or a portion of a drain,whether it is manufactured as part of the drain or is separately madeand placed over or on top of all or a part of the drain, and whether itis one piece or multiple pieces which in combination cover all or aportion of the drain, and such drain top, grate or cover may be made outof one or materials, including but not limited to metals, such as castiron, copper, steel, aluminum, plastics such as PVC or ABS,polyurethane, polyethylene, building products such as stone, tile,concrete, marble, cultured marble, mortar, stucco or the like, or anyother material suitable as a drain top or cover.

A “drain body” means, encompasses and comprises performed drain bodiesand other areas into which liquids may otherwise drain, such asdepressions in a shower, bath, basin or bathroom floor, whetherpreformed or formed during the assembly of the shower, bath, basin orfloor.

The term “grate free” means any area over, near or in registry with adrain into which water or other liquid may drain which is substantiallyfree of obstruction.

The inventions disclosed herein may be employed in sinks, basins,showers, baths, shower pans, fixtures, and any other surface or fixturethat has a drain.

The present invention is directed to shower pans, drains and drain tops,grates or covers which are used independently or in combination with (i)a prefabricated shower pan, (ii) a partially prefabricated shower pan,(iii) a mortar bed or a hand made shower pan floor, and/or (iv) a tiledor tileable surface or fixture, and which drain tops, grates or coversat least partially cover the drain apparatus, where the drain cover istileable, attachable, (optionally) removable and interchangeable withother tileable or non tileable drain tops, grates or covers which permitwater to drain through a gap between the tiled or tileable drain top,grate or cover and the tiled or tileable area surrounding and/oradjacent to the drain top, grate or cover, while substantiallyconcealing the drain apparatus and the drain aperture, and method ofinstallation and use.

As best shown in FIGS. 1-5, a preferred embodiment of the inventioncomprises a drain body 10 adapted to be connected to a (i) aprefabricated shower pan, (ii) a partially prefabricated shower pan,(iii) a mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor, (iv) a tiled ortileable surface or fixture, or other shower, shower pan, bath or sinkfloor, fixture, or floor of any type, for example a conventionalprefabricated waterproof shower or bath pan of the type disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,913,777. The drain body 10 may be connected to (i) aprefabricated shower pan, (ii) a partially prefabricated shower pan,(iii) a mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor, (iv) a tileableor tiled surface or fixture, by any suitable means, including but notlimited to, being integrally molded therewith during manufacturethereof, by connection post-manufacture, or in situ in field. The shapeof drain body 10 is shown as rectangular in the drawings. However, it isto be appreciated that drain body 10 may be made in any desired shapewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Inaddition, any number of drain structures of this invention may beemployed in any given application.

The drain body 10, in its simplest and preferred form as shown in FIGS.1-5, is comprised of a waterproof structure having a floor section 12which defines a drain aperture 13, and a peripheral sidewall section 14.Structure for releasably and interchangeably attaching a drain top,grate or cover 50 to drain body 10 is employed, such as posts 32, 34, 36and 38 which are adapted to mate with corresponding sockets 52, 54, 56and 58 on a drain cover 50. Alternatively, cover 50 may releasably andinterchangeably attach to drain body 10 by any other connectionstructure, such as by more or fewer posts and sockets, differentconnection structure, or by being attached to and made part of thethreaded drain insert 40 (shown in FIGS. 5-6), which includes a threadedcollar 46 which is adapted to threadingly engage threaded surface 16 ofdrain collar 15, or by any other manner which will occur to those ofskill in the art. Alternatively, cover 50 may attach to the shower orbath pan floor. Corresponding connection structure may be employed inassociation with the shower or bath pan floor, such as connection postsor sockets similar to those described elsewhere in this disclosure, orany other structure for connecting cover 50 to the floor which willoccur to those of skill in the art.

Drain body 10 may, preferably but not by way of limitation, include adepending collar section 15, the inside surface 16 of which is threaded.Drain body 10 may also preferably but not by way of limitation include afurther depending collar section 18 which is adapted to engage theinterior of a drain pipe (not shown) of a building's plumbing lines.Drain body 10 may have one or more of the many types of connections, forexample (i) from the drain body to the waste water system; and (ii) fromthe drain body to the drain top, grate or cover, including withoutlimitation a threaded connection, a hub connection, a no hub connection,a solvent weld connection, a compression drain connection, a trenchdrain, a welded drain connection, an outside caulk drain connection, aninside caulk drain connection, a spigot drain connection, a hublessspigot drain, a hubless drain, inside caulk(gasket) drain, hubbed (pushon) drain, a compression drain, a clamping ring drain, etc.

Cover 50 is defined by peripheral edge 60, which, again, may bemanufactured in any desired shape, and is adapted to cover a portion ofdrain body floor 12 so as to permit a tileable surface above the drainand the drain aperture while simultaneously concealing the drainaperture 13, the drain, and as much of floor 12 as is practicable andstill have the required grate free area for adequate drainage. Whencover 50 is connected to drain body 10, peripheral edge 60 of cover 50is spaced from sidewall 14 so as to define a gap or grate free area Gthere between through which water may pass while flowing through thedrain and toward drain aperture 13. In this way, water is permitted toexit the shower, bath, sink or other such area without the drainaperture or drain 13 being visible. Likewise, the peripheral edge 60also forms a gap with drain body floor 12.

The drain apparatus of this invention is preferably utilized as part of(i) a prefabricated shower pan, (ii) a partially prefabricated showerpan, (iii) a mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor, and/or (iv)a tiled or tileable surface or fixture, whereby flooring or wallmaterial such as tile may be attached up to (i.e. adjacent) or uponperipheral wall 14 by epoxy, concrete, or any suitable wall or flooringadhesive, and additional flooring or wall coverings, if any, placed upondrain cover 50 with an appropriate wall or flooring adhesive. In thisway, the drain top, grate or cover has a finished tiled look whichmatches the area surrounding or adjacent to the drain top, grate orcover, with the drain and drain aperture fully operational yetunnoticeable.

A strainer made of any appropriate material, an example of which isshown in FIG. 10, may be placed on drain floor 12 so as to cover drainaperture 13, which strainer is intended to catch any debris which wouldflow through the grate free area (i.e. gap G) and which would otherwiseflow into the drain aperture 13 but for the strainer. The strainer maybe held in place by nesting apertures 112, 114, 116 and 118 with lugs orposts 32, 34, 36, and 38, or by any other appropriate structureoccurring to one with skill in the art, and will be accessible byremoving the drain top, grate or cover 50 for purposes of cleaning orreplacing. Alternatively, any of the standard types of strainers, suchas that shown in shown in FIGS. 6-7, may be employed.

To that end, a drain insert 40 may be employed in connection with drainbody 10 as shown in FIGS. 6-9. Insert 40 may include a threaded collar46 which is adapted to threadingly engage threaded surface 16 of draincollar 15. Insert 40 may also include one or more interchangeable draintops, grates or covers, such as drain grate 42, which defines one ormore drainage apertures or grate free areas 44. The drain grate withgrate free areas may be provided with any type of finish and/or anynumber of custom designs. The drain assemblies of this invention mayalso be provided with interchangeable drain grates with any imaginableconfiguration(s) for the grate free area.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 11-12, a strainer 110 may be employedwhich, rather than being connected to a separate insert such as draininsert 40, may be placed in registry with drain aperture 13. Asdiscussed above, strainer 110 may have disposed therein apertures 112,114, 116 and 118 adapted to fit over posts 32, 34, 36 and 38.Alternatively, a strainer such as strainer 110 may simply be placed uponfloor 12 or connected or otherwise positioned in registry therewith byany means known to the artisan, such as by attachment to strainer body40.

Drain body 10 need not necessarily employ a sidewall section 14. Rather,as the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 9 shows, the shower or floor pan orother structure which functions as the shower, bath, sink or other floorsubstrate may provide the sidewall structure needed to constrain waterflowing toward the floor drain. In this case, drain body 10 need only becomprised of a floor section 12. Once combined with the shower or bathpan or other structure which functions as the shower, bath, sink orother floor substrate, drain body 10 will be situated within the pan insuch a way that a drain plenum is formed by the drain body floor section12 and the sidewalls 92 which form the drain recess into which the drainbody 10 has been positioned.

In such an embodiment, in all other respects the drain apparatus is thesame as described elsewhere herein. That is, a drain top, grate, orcover 50 may be removably connected to drain body 10 in any suitablemanner, such as by the use of one or more posts 32, 34, 36 and 38 whichcoact with corresponding recesses 52, 54, 56 and 58 in cover 50. As canbe seen in FIG. 8, drain body floor 12 and sidewalls 14 form a plenuminto which water drains from the shower, bath, sink or other floor,which in turn drains into drain aperture 13. Likewise, as seen in FIG.9, drain body floor 12 and sidewalls 92 form a similar plenum. Likewise,drain body 10, whether with or without sidewalls 14, will form a similardrain plenum when combined with floor or other substrates formed by (i)a prefabricated shower pan, and/or (ii) a partially prefabricated showerpan, and/or (iii) a mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor,and/or (iv) a tiled or tileable surface or fixture, whether suchsubstrate is constructed on site in whole or in part.

As stated above, the shower, sink, bath, floor or other surface orstructure which functions as the shower, bath, sink, floor or othersubstrate, may be of any type, such as (i) a prefabricated shower pan,(ii) a partially prefabricated shower pan, (iii) a mortar bed or otherhand made shower pan floor, and/or (iv) a tiled or tileable surface orfixture.

It is to be understood that the posts and sockets may be reversed inwhole or in part, such that any of the posts may be connected to cover50, and any of the sockets may be connected to drain body 10. The postand socket arrangement disclosed herein is but an example of the manyways in which drain top, grate, or 50 may be associated with the drainor drain body 12, it being appreciated that any suitable attachmentarrangement is contemplated to be within the scope of this invention.

The invention is also directed to a method of installing a tileabledrain assembly over a drain or over another area that drains into adrain or a drain aperture which has a grate free area adjacent to one ormore perimeter edges of a drain top, grate, or cover 50 in accordancewith this invention, which includes the steps of: (1) connecting a drainbody 10 of this invention to a prefabricated shower pan, a partiallyprefabricated shower pan, a mortar bed or other hand made shower panfloor, and/or a tiled or tileable surface or fixture, the drain body 10defining at least one drain aperture 13 and optionally including aperipheral sidewall 14 and, (2) installing the floor pan in a shower orbath enclosure space (not shown) so that the drain aperture 13 issubstantially in registry with an existing floor drain; (3) providing adrain top, grate or cover 50 which is sized and shaped, when connectedto the drain body 10, to provide a grate free area or gap G between aperipheral edge 60 of the drain top, grate or cover and the drain bodysidewall 14 (and/or the adjacent prefabricated shower pan, partiallyprefabricated shower pan, mortar bed or other hand made shower panfloor, and/or a tiled or tileable surface or fixture) to permit drainageof water through said gap G.

Another method of installing a tileable drain assembly over a drain orover another area that drains into a drain or a drain aperture which hasa grate free area adjacent to one or more of the perimeter edges of adrain top, grate, or cover 50 in accordance with this invention includesthe steps of: (a) connecting a drain body 10 of this invention to afloor drain, the drain body including a peripheral sidewall 14; (2)installing flooring material onto the adjacent shower, bath, sink orother floor in the vicinity adjacent the peripheral sidewall of thedrain body; (3) providing a removable drain cover which is sized andshaped, when connected to the drain body, to provide a gap G between thedrain body sidewall and the peripheral edge of the drain cover to permitdrainage of water through said gap; and (4) installing flooring materialon the drain cover.

Yet another method of installing a tileable drain assembly over a drainor over another area that drains into a drain or a drain aperture whichhas a grate free area adjacent to one or more of the perimeter edges ofa drain top, grate, or cover 50 in accordance with this inventionincludes the steps of: (1) connecting a drain body of this inventionsubstantially in registry with an existing floor drain; (2) providing aremovable drain cover which is sized and shaped, when connected to thedrain body, to provide a gap G between the drain body sidewall and aperipheral edge of the drain cover to permit drainage of water throughsaid gap G.

A still further method of installing a tileable drain assembly over adrain body or over another area that drains into a drain or a drainaperture which has a grate free area adjacent to one or more of theperimeter edges of a drain top, grate, or cover 50 in accordance withthis invention includes the steps of: (1) installing one or more of (a)a prefabricated shower pan, (b) a partially prefabricated shower pan,(c) a mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor, (d) a tiled ortileable surface or fixture, in a shower or bath enclosure space (notshown), each of the prefabricated shower pan, partially prefabricatedshower pan, mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor, or tiled ortileable surface or fixture including a floor, so that the existingfloor drain is substantially in registry with a location on the floorwhere a hidden shower or bath drain in accordance with the teachings ofthis invention is to be employed; (2) connecting a drain body 10 of thisinvention to the prefabricated shower pan, partially prefabricatedshower pan, mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor, or tiled ortileable surface or fixture by creating an aperture in saidprefabricated shower pan, partially prefabricated shower pan, mortar bedor other hand made shower pan floor or tiled or tileable surface orfixture into which is adapted to be attached the drain body 10, thedrain body 10, optionally including a peripheral sidewall 14, anddefining at least one drain aperture 13; (3) providing a drain cover 50which is sized and shaped, when connected to the drain body 10, toprovide a gap G between the drain floor 12 and/or drain body sidewall 14and a peripheral edge 60 of the drain cover to permit drainage of waterthrough said gap G.

In use, when the drain apparatus of the instant invention is connectedto (i) a prefabricated shower pan, (ii) a partially prefabricated showerpan, (iii) a mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor, and/or (iv)a tiled or tileable surface or fixture, cover 50 may be removed topermit access to aperture 13 and/or to permit installation of insertstrainer 40 or any other strainer such as strainer 110 shown in FIGS.10-11 for cleaning and/or maintenance. Also, the building plumbing maybe rooted out without requiring removal of drain body 10 so long ascover 50 is removed. When cover 50 is installed upon drain body 10, itis intended to be virtually impossible to detect that a drain is evenpresent.

A representative, non-exhaustive, depiction of a type of flooringmaterial which may be used with the invention is shown in FIGS. 2, 8-9and 11-12 in the form of one or more pieces of flooring tile 80. Asstated above, floor or wall covering material suitable for use with thisinvention may be one or more of ceramic, natural stone or other tile,stone, granite, marble, cultured marble, or other stone surface, nonslip finished shower surfaces such as vinyl or plastic, stucco,concrete, and mortar surfaces which may be mixed with adhesives or othersubstances and any other material or material used to provide a finishedsurface. As seen in FIGS. 8-9, once flooring material 80 is installed inthe shower or bath pan 90 up to the area adjacent to the outerperipheral edge 14 of drain body 10 or pan interior sidewalls 92, andinstalled on top of cover 50, the upper surface C of which is designedto be coplanar with the upper surface P of the adjacent area of theshower or bath pan (or mortar bed floor) 90, a contiguous finishedshower or bath surface is formed, and the drain is essentiallyundetectable.

In addition, the drain body may be employed without the use of a coversuch as cover 50 in which case no flooring material will be used toconceal the actual drain aperture or strainer insert 40, or may employ adifferently configured cover which acts as an unconcealed drain top,grate or cover. (i.e. that is not covered with flooring material). Thedrain body may be installed in or below the upper surface of (i) aprefabricated shower pan, (ii) a partially prefabricated shower pan,(iii) a mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor, (iv) a tiled ortileable surface or fixture. In this way, a provider of products of thistype may significantly reduce attendant manufacturing costs by reducingthe number of molds employed in the manufacture of a variety of pansizes. In addition, management of inventory is simplified since a singledrain body 10 may be used for all prefabricated or manufacture productshaving a drain, and while using interchangeable tileable, non tileable,and designer drain tops, grates or covers to establish separate productlines which can be marketed and sold based on the finish of the draintop, grate or cover. Alternatively, the different drain tops, grates orcovers can be supplied as part of a kit, or as accessories which can beordered or otherwise purchased separately, allowing for a wide varietyof combinations of tiled, tileable or non tileable drain tops, grates orcovers, with concealed or unconcealed drains, with designer tops,including but not limited to, (i) a tileable drain top, grate or coverwith a concealed drain, (ii) a non tileable drain top, grate, or coverwith a standard grate free area design, and an unconcealed drain, (iii)a non tileable drain top, grate or cover with a designer drain top,grate or cover and an unconcealed drain, or (iv) an unconcealed drainand an untiled designer drain top, grate or cover, simply bysubstituting one drain top grate or cover for another, i.e., removingthe tileable cover 50 and connecting any number of different tileable ornon tileable drain tops, grates or covers over drain aperture 13.

FIGS. 10-11 and 14 show a strainer insert 110 adapted to be placed ontofloor 12. Strainer 110 defines apertures 112, 114, 116 and 118 which areadapted to receive posts 32, 43, 36 and 38. Alternatively, strainer 110may be of any size or shape, so long as it effectively covers drainaperture 13.

FIGS. 12-13 show a modified drain insert assembly, whereby floor 12 ofdrain body 10 is recessed around drain aperture 13, creating an annularrecess or shoulder 19 into which strainer 42 of drain insert 40 may benested, so as to create a smooth transition for water flowing from floor12 into drain aperture 13. Alternatively, a stand alone strainer such asthat shown in FIGS. 10-11, preferably, but not by way of limitation,round shaped, may be dropped into the annular recess defined by shoulder19 and attached thereto by any suitable means.

The exposed edges of cover 50 and/or flooring material 80 around gap Gmay be covered, beveled, ground or otherwise rendered smooth so that itwill not expose a user to any sharp edge which may injure the user.Adhesively or clip-on attachable L-shaped cover members 100 may beprovided, by way of additional example, so as to cover the edges ofcover 50 and/or flooring material 80. Alternatively, a flowable,hardenable material such as liquid epoxy, or other resinuous orplasticized material may be poured or otherwise coated over the exposededges.

Cover 50 may be, as stated above, removable, and additional and/orreplacement covers may be provided or sold separately to permitvariation in the appearance of the drain and/or shower, bath, tub orbasin. For example, a user may wish to use a first covering materialsuch as floor or sink/tub/basin tile on a first cover member 50, and asecond, different, covering material on a second cover member 50.Additional replacement cover members 50 may be provided with stillfurther covering materials associated with them. For example, a user maywish to employ a decorative covering material on one cover member 50,and his or her favorite sports team or celebrity on another, or abuilder or hotelier may wish to have a unique feature or logo tiled ontothe drain top, grate or cover, and so forth.

However, it is also to be understood that cover 50 may be connectable todrain body 10 in a manner that will preclude the removal thereof onceconnected. Also, drain body 10 and cover 50 may be manufactured as anintegral unit.

It is to be understood that the drain assembly disclosed herein may beemployed without the prefabricated shower pan or partially prefabricatedshower pan referenced above. Drain body 10 may be installed in a mortarbed or other hand made shower pan by creating a mud or mortar base for ashower, tub, etc., placing drain body collar section 18 in registry witha floor or basin/sink drain while sinking drain body 10 into said mud ormortar base, and tiling over or up to the outer periphery of the drainbody 10. One or more covers 50 may then be interchangeably employed inthe manner discussed above.

It is also to be understood that the cover members 50 of this invention(i) may be of any shape or size, (ii) may consist of two or moreseparate pieces, (iii) may have grate free area within the body of thecover, and (iv) may have grate free area between one or more of themultiple cover pieces. Drain body 10 may or may not be correspondinglyshaped as well.

Drain assemblies in accordance with this invention may be located atessentially any position within a (i) a prefabricated shower pan, (ii) apartially prefabricated shower pan, (iii) mortar bed or other hand-madeshower pan, and/or (iv) a tiled or tileable surface or fixture. If thedrain assembly is located near one or more sidewalls (if any) of suchpan or bed, one or more of the gaps G surrounding the outer peripheraledges 60 of cover 50 may be bounded by the sidewall, such that the outerboundary of gap G along the edge of cover 50 facing the sidewall orsidewalls will be the sidewall or sidewalls. Or, the cover 50 and/orcovering material 80 attached to cover 50 may be butted up against or inclose proximity to said sidewall or sidewalls.

The drain cover may alternatively be attached to the drain apparatusthrough an attachment structure which allows the height of the uppersurface of the drain cover to be positioned so that it is coplanar withan upper surface of the (A) prefabricated shower pan, (B) partiallyprefabricated shower pan, (C) a mortar bed or other hand made shower panfloor, or (D) a tiled or tileable surface or fixture, adjacent to thedrain top, grate, or cover, such attachment structure including but notlimited to: (i) attaching a drain insert such as insert 40 to the drainby threadingly attaching the drain, top, grate or cover to the draininsert, rotating the drain insert down to the appropriate height, andthen attaching the drain top, grate or cover to the drain insert, byscrews, clips, snap-on posts, or other suitable attachment mechanism or(ii) attaching the drain cover to posts on the drain body floor withvariably sized spacers to allow the height of the non tileable draincover to be coplanar with the tiled prefabricated shower pan adjacent tothe non tileable drain top, grate, or cover, or (iii) any other methodthat allows the non tileable drain top, grate or cover to be adjustablyattached to the drain cover apparatus at a height that is coplanar withthe tiled prefabricated shower pan surface.

FIG, 15 shows spacers 190 being used between drain body floor 12 and thebottom of sockets 52, 54, 56 and 58, which permit the adjustment of theheight of upper surface C of cover 50 and upper surface P of pan floor90. In this way, the height of cover C relative to the adjacent panfloor can be adjusted to accommodate height variations in the drain bodyand pan assembly as well as variations, if any, in the thickness offloor covering material employed. It is to be understood that theconfiguration shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 may be likewise employed in theconfiguration shown in FIGS. 9 and 12-13.

FIGS. 16-17 show an alternative configuration for the drain body andcover assembly. In this embodiment, drain body 10 and cover 50 arecircular in shape. The invention otherwise functions in accordance withthe principles described herein. Obviously, drain body 10 and/or cover50 may be sized and shaped in any manner.

FIGS. 18-20 show a representative example of a prefabricated shower orbath pan in accordance with this invention having the drain body 10 ofthe instant invention associated therewith. Pan 90 may be comprised of afloor 212, sidewalls 214, a curb 216 and one or more barrier-freethresholds 218. Any other configuration of a prefabricated shower orbath pan known to those of skill in the art may be employed. Drain body10 may employ sidewalls 14 as shown in FIG. 8, or be without sidewallsas shown in FIG. 9. Cover 50 is associated therewith, so as to form gapG through which water may drain.

In this embodiment, one or more drain bodies, such as any of the drainbodies illustrated in FIGS. 1-17, are connected to pan 90, preferablyduring manufacture of pan 90. Pan 90 is installed within, or forms thespace for, a shower enclosure. Tailpiece 18 of drain body 10 (shown inFIGS. 1-4 and 7-16) is placed in registry with the existing floor drain(not shown) during installation of pan 90. Pan 90 is otherwise installedas known to those of skill in the art. Wall or flooring material 80 isthen installed over pan 90 and cover 50 as shown in FIG. 19.

In addition, the drain apparatus disclosed herein may also be employedwith a partially prefabricated shower pan where the drain is installedin the shower pan floor after manufacture, usually in the field and atthe time of installation of the partially prefabricated shower pan. Sucha partially prefabricated shower pan may be comprised of any of thecomponents shown in the pan of FIG. 18, or additional or fewercomponents, depending upon the needs of the application. Furtheradditionally, the drain apparatus disclosed herein may also be used inconjunction with a mortar bed or other hand made shower pans, or anysurface or fixture in which a drain is to be installed. In eitherinstallation, i.e. pans assembled and installed in the field (forexample, partially fabricated shower pans, mortar beds or other handmade shower pan floors, and surfaces or fixtures into which one or moredrains are to be installed), the drain body must be connected to thefloor drain while at the same time being recessed within the shower panfloor so that upon completion of the installation, the tileable or tileddrain top, grate or cover will be coplanar with the tileable or tiledshower pan floor or other surface or fixture immediately adjacentthereto.

One manner of implementing such an arrangement is by the use of amodified drain body 310 shown in FIGS. 21-23. Drain body 310 may have afloor section 312 which defines a drain aperture 313, optional sidewalls314, posts 332, 334, 336 and 338 for receiving corresponding sockets incover 50, and a drain body tail piece 318, similar to that described inprevious embodiments.

A floor mounting flange 322 is associated with drain body 310 in amanner which will be apparent from the description below. A standardfloor drain collar 320 is adapted to be positioned within a subfloor315, and has associated therewith one or more bolts 326 which arethreadingly or otherwise connected to drain collar 320 in any mannerwhich will occur to those of skill in the art. In the example shown,bushings 324 are retained by corresponding sockets in drain collar 320,which in turn receive threaded bolts 326. When drain body 310 is placedupon floor drain 320, apertures in flange(s) 322 are aligned with bolts326, and retaining nuts 327 secured thereover to fasten drain body 312to floor drain collar 320.

As best seen in FIGS. 21-23, in the event a partially prefabricated panis to be employed to create the shower pan, a pan floor 390 may beemployed which is made up of two or more sections or pieces 392A, 392B,which define corresponding cutouts 395A, 395B which nest around theouter surfaces of drain body sidewalls 314. Areas of reduced thicknesssuch as shoulders 397A, 397B defined by the sidewalls of cutouts 395A,395B are slid between the substrate such as subfloor and/or thinset 315and drain body floor 312 upon installation of pan floor sections 395A,395B into an enclosure space such as a shower or bath enclosure.Thereafter, additional covering material such as a waterproof liner ormembrane 400, and/or mortar or thinset or other setting materials and/oradhesives 410, and floor or wall covering material such as tile 80 overpan floor 392A, 392B and cover 50, may be installed to complete theinstallation. It is also understood that the partially prefabricatedshower pan may have one piece shower pan floor, in which case a hole iscut into a shower pan floor for purposes of installing the drain andattaching it to the waste water system, and such partially prefabricatedshower pan may also have additional component parts such as a curb,barrier free entrance, splash walls, and water proofing materials whichare also assembled and installed in the field with the one piece showerpan floor.

Any other manner and/or structure of connecting a drain cover to awastewater drain pipe are contemplated to be within the scope ofapplication of the apparatus and methods described herein. For example,the drain bodies shown and described herein are likewise suited for usewith compression drain and clamping ring drain attachment arrangements.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed above with regard to specific embodiments of the presentinvention. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, andany element(s) that may cause or result in such benefits, advantages, orsolutions to become more pronounced are not to be construed as acritical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all theclaims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims includingany amendments made while this application is pending and allequivalents of those claims as issued.

What is claimed:
 1. A prefabricated shower pan and drain assembly, comprising: a prefabricated shower pan including a floor defining at least one drain opening; a drain cover, the drain cover defining a peripheral edge; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture; structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain body floor; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal at least a portion of the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, and such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain body floor so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the prefabricated shower pan while substantially concealing the drain aperture, and wherein the drain cover is also adapted to be at least partially covered with one or more type of wall or floor covering material.
 2. A prefabricated shower pan and drain apparatus, comprising; a prefabricated shower pan which defines a drain recess, the recess defined by a drain recess peripheral sidewall; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture; a drain cover, the drain cover defining a peripheral edge; structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain body floor; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain recess peripheral sidewall and/or the prefabricated shower pan so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the prefabricated shower pan while substantially concealing the drain aperture, and wherein the drain cover is also adapted to be at least partially covered with one or more type of wall or floor covering material.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the drain cover is made from any material selected from the group comprising plastic such as PVC or ABS, polyurethane, polyethylene, metal such as copper, cast iron, aluminum, steel, building products such as stone, concrete, marble, cultured marble, mortar and stucco,
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the drain cover does not define any grate free area within itself.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein an upper surface of the prefabricated shower pan adjacent to the drain recess is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the drain cover when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the prefabricated shower pan floor adjacent the drain body so that an upper surface of the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the prefabricated shower pan floor.
 7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: wherein the drain cover, and the prefabricated shower pan floor, are covered with wall or flooring material, and wherein an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the prefabricated shower pan floor when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body; and the gap is defined on one side by the wall or flooring material on the prefabricated shower pan floor and on the other side by the wall or flooring material on the drain cover, such that water drains between perimeter tiled edges of the drain cover and tiled perimeter edges of the prefabricated shower pan adjacent the drain top, grate or cover.
 8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the prefabricated shower pan floor adjacent the drain body so that an upper surface of the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the prefabricated shower pan floor, and the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the upper surface of the prefabricated shower pan floor adjacent the drain body so as to allow for water to drain therebetween.
 9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the prefabricated shower pan floor so that an upper surface of the drain cover when attached in registry with the drain body is substantially coplanar with the adjacent upper surface of the prefabricated shower pan floor, and a lower surface of the drain cover and an upper surface of the drain body floor are spaced so as to allow for water to drain therebetween into the drain aperture.
 10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the drain cover is adapted to be releasable and/or interchangeable with other tiled, tileable and/or non tileable drain covers so that the prefabricated shower pan can selectively have either a tiled, tileable or a non tileable drain cover associated therewith.
 11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the drain cover is vertically adjustable so that an upper surface of the drain cover may be positioned to be coplanar with an adjacent tiled or tileable upper surface of the prefabricated shower pan.
 12. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the drain cover is of the non-tileable variety and is adapted to be interchangeable with covers of the tileable variety in such a fashion that any of the tiled, tileable and non tileable drain covers are vertically adjustable so that an upper surface thereof can be oriented so as to be substantially coplanar with an upper surface of any adjacent prefabricated shower pan floor.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the covers are adapted to be removable so as to provide, among other things, access to the drain aperture and the waste water system and to provide different drain top, grate and cover finishes and styles for the tiled prefabricated shower pan.
 14. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the drain cover is held in registry with the drain body through an attachment structure which allows the height of an upper surface of the drain cover to be adjusted so as to be positioned coplanar with an upper surface of the adjacent prefabricated shower pan.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein vertical adjustment of the one or more drain covers is accomplished by the use of adjusting structure selected from the group consisting of shims, washers, ball and detent arrangement and threads.
 16. The apparatus of claim 2, further including a strainer attachable to the drain body.
 17. A partially prefabricated shower pan and drain assembly, comprising: a partially prefabricated shower pan including a floor defining at least one drain opening; a drain cover, the drain cover defining a peripheral edge; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture; structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain body floor; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal at least a portion of the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain body floor so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the partially prefabricated shower pan while substantially concealing the drain aperture, and wherein the drain cover is also adapted to be at least partially covered with one or more type of wall or floor covering material.
 18. A partially prefabricated shower pan and drain apparatus, comprising; a partially prefabricated shower pan having a partially prefabricated shower pan floor which defines a drain recess, the recess defined by a drain recess peripheral sidewall; a drain cover for a drain apparatus, the drain cover defining a peripheral edge; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture; structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain body floor; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain recess peripheral sidewall and/or the partially prefabricated shower pan so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the partially prefabricated shower pan while substantially concealing the drain aperture, and wherein the drain cover is also adapted to be at least partially covered with one or more type of wall or floor covering material.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the drain cover is made from any material selected from the group comprising plastic such as PVC or ABS, polyurethane, polyethylene, metal such as copper, cast iron, aluminum, steel, and/or building materials such as stone, concrete, marble, cultured marble, mortar and stucco.
 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the drain cover does not define any grate free area within itself.
 21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein an upper surface of the partially prefabricated shower pan adjacent to the drain recess is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the drain cover when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body.
 22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below a tiled or tileable upper surface of the partially prefabricated shower pan floor adjacent the drain body so that an upper surface of the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the partially prefabricated shower pan floor.
 23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein: wherein the drain cover, and the partially prefabricated shower pan floor, are covered with wall or flooring material, and wherein an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the partially prefabricated shower pan floor when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body; and the gap is defined on one side by the wall or flooring material on the partially prefabricated shower pan floor and on the other side by the wall or flooring material on the drain cover, such that water drains between perimeter tiled edges of the drain cover and tiled perimeter edges of the partially prefabricated shower pan adjacent the drain top, grate or cover.
 24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the partially prefabricated shower pan floor adjacent the drain body so that an upper surface of the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the partially prefabricated shower pan floor, and the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the upper surface of the partially prefabricated shower pan floor adjacent the drain body so as to allow for water to drain therebetween.
 25. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the partially prefabricated shower pan floor so that an upper surface of the drain cover when attached to the drain is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the partially prefabricated shower pan floor, and a lower surface of the attached drain cover and an upper surface of the drain body floor are spaced so that a sufficient gap is created between them so as to allow for water to drain therethrough into the drain aperture.
 26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the drain cover is adapted to be releasable and/or interchangeable with other tiled, tileable and/or non tileable drain covers so that the partially prefabricated shower pan can have selectively either a tiled, tileable or a non tileable drain cover associated therewith.
 27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the drain cover is vertically adjustable so that an upper surface of the drain cover may be positioned to be coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the partially prefabricated shower pan.
 28. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the drain cover is of the non-tileable variety and is adapted to be interchangeable with covers of the tileable variety in such a fashion that any tiled, tileable and non tileable drain covers used are vertically adjustable so that an upper surface thereof can be oriented so as to be substantially coplanar with an upper surface of an adjacent partially prefabricated shower pan floor.
 29. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein any tiled, tileable, and nontileable drain covers used are adapted to be releasable so as to provide, among other things, access to the drain aperture and the waste water system and to provide different drain cover finishes and styles for the tiled partially prefabricated shower pan.
 30. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the drain cover is held in registry with the drain body through an attachment structure which allows the height of an upper surface of the drain cover to be adjusted so as to be positioned coplanar with an upper surface of the adjacent partially prefabricated shower pan.
 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein vertical adjustment of the one or more drain covers is accomplished by the use of adjusting structure selected from the group consisting of shims, washers, ball and detent arrangement and threads.
 32. The apparatus of claim 18, further including a strainer attachable to the drain body.
 33. A mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor and drain assembly, comprising: a mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor defining at least one drain opening; a drain cover, the cover defining a peripheral edge; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture; structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain body floor; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to at least partially conceal the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain top, grate or cover is spaced from the drain body floor so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor while substantially concealing the drain aperture, and wherein the drain cover is also adapted to be at least partially covered with one or more type of wall or floor covering material.
 34. A mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor and drain apparatus, comprising; a mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor which defines a drain recess, the recess defined by a drain recess peripheral sidewall; a drain cover for a drain apparatus, the drain cover defining a peripheral edge; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture; structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain body floor; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain recess peripheral sidewall and/or the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor while substantially concealing the drain aperture, and wherein the drain cover is also adapted to be at least partially covered with one or more type of wall or floor covering material.
 35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the drain cover is made from any material selected from the group comprising plastic such as PVC or ABS, polyurethane, polyethylene, metal such as copper, cast iron, aluminum, steel, building materials such as stone, concrete, marble, cultured marble, mortar and stucco.
 36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the drain cover does not define any grate free area within itself.
 37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein an upper surface of the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor adjacent to the drain recess is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the drain cover when the drain top grate or cover is placed in registry with the drain body.
 38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below a tiled or tileable upper surface of the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor adjacent the drain body so that a tiled or tileable upper surface of the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an adjacent tiled or tileable upper surface of the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor.
 39. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein: the drain cover, and the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor, are tiled or are tileable, and wherein a tiled or tileable upper surface of the drain cover is substantially coplanar with a tiled or tileable adjacent upper surface of the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor when the tiled or tileable drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body; and the gap is defined on one side by the tiled or tileable mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor and on the other side by the tiled or tileable drain cover, such that water drains between the tiled or tileable perimeter edges of the drain cover and the tiled or tileable perimeter edges of the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor adjacent the tiled or tileable drain cover.
 40. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor adjacent the drain body so that an upper surface of the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor, and the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the upper surface of the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor adjacent the drain body so as to allow for water to drain therebetween.
 41. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below a tiled or tileable upper surface of the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor so that a tiled or tileable upper surface of drain cover when attached to the drain body is substantially coplanar with a tiled or tileable adjacent upper surface of the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor, and a lower surface of the drain cover and an upper surface of the drain body floor are spaced so that a sufficient gap is created so as to allow for water to drain therethrough
 42. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the drain cover is adapted to be releasable and interchangeable with other tiled, tileable and/or non tileable drain covers so that the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor can have selectively either a tiled, a tileable or a non tileable drain cover associated therewith,
 43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the drain covers are vertically adjustable so that a tiled, tileable and/or nontileable upper surface of the drain cover may be positioned to be coplanar with an adjacent tiled, tileable or nontileable upper surface of the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor.
 44. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the drain cover is adapted to be interchangeable with the drain in such a fashion that both tileable and non tileable drain covers are vertically adjustable so that an upper surface thereof can be oriented so as to be substantially coplanar with a tiled or tileable upper surface of any adjacent tiled or tileable mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor.
 45. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein tiled, tileable, and nontileable drain covers are adapted to be releasably attachable in registry with the drain body so as to provide, among other things, access to the drain aperture and the waste water system and to permit the association of drain covers with different finishes and/or styles relative to the tiled mortar bed or other handmade shower pan floor.
 46. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the drain cover is held in registry with the drain body through an attachment structure which allows the height of an upper surface of the drain cover to be adjusted so as to be positioned coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor.
 47. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein vertical adjustment of the one or more drain covers is accomplished by the use of adjusting structure selected from the group consisting of shims, washers, ball and detent arrangement and threads.
 48. The apparatus of claim 34, further including a strainer attachable to the drain body.
 49. A tiled and/or tileable surface or fixture and drain assembly, comprising: a tiled and/or tileable surface or fixture including a floor defining at least one drain opening; a drain cover, the drain top grate or cover defining a peripheral edge; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture; structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain body floor; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal at least a portion of the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, and such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain body floor so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the tiled or tileable surface or fixture while substantially concealing the drain aperture, and wherein the drain cover is also adapted to be at least partially covered with one or more type of wall or floor covering material.
 50. A tiled and/or tileable surface or fixture and drain apparatus, comprising; a tiled and/or tileable surface or fixture which defines a drain recess, the recess defined by a drain recess peripheral sidewall; a drain cover, the drain cover defining a peripheral edge; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture, and structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain body floor; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain recess peripheral sidewall and/or the tiled or tileable surface or fixture so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the tiled and/or tileable surface or fixture while substantially concealing the drain aperture, and wherein the drain cover is also adapted to be at least partially covered with one or more type of wall or floor covering material.
 51. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein the drain cover is made from any material selected from the group comprising plastic such as PVC or ABS, polyurethane, polyethylene, metal such as copper, cast iron, aluminum, steel, building materials such as stone, concrete, marble, cultured marble, mortar and stucco.
 52. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the top, grate or cover does not define any grate free area within itself.
 53. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein an upper surface of the surface or fixture adjacent to the drain recess is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the drain cover when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body.
 54. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the surface or fixture adjacent the drain body so that an upper surface of the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the surface or fixture.
 55. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein: wherein the drain cover, and the surface or fixture, are covered with wall or flooring material, and wherein an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the surface or fixture when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body; and the gap is defined on one side by the wall or flooring material on the surface or fixture and on the other side by the wall or flooring material on the drain cover, such that water drains between perimeter tiled edges of the drain cover and tiled perimeter edges of the surface or fixture adjacent the drain cover.
 56. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the surface or fixture adjacent the drain body so that an upper surface of the drain cover is substantially coplanar with the adjacent upper surface of the surface or fixture, and the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the upper surface of the surface or fixture adjacent the drain body so as to allow for water to drain therebetween.
 57. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the surface or fixture so that an upper surface of the drain cover when situated in registry with the drain body is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the surface or fixture, and a lower surface of the drain cover and an upper surface of the drain body floor are spaced so that a sufficient gap is created so as to allow for water to drain therethrough into the drain aperture.
 58. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the drain cover is adapted to be releasable and interchangeable with other tiled, tileable and/or non tileable drain covers so that the surface or fixture can have selectively either a tiled, tileable or a non tileable drain cover associated therewith.
 59. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the drain covers are vertically adjustable so that an upper surface of the drain cover may be positioned to be coplanar with an upper surface of the surface or fixture adjacent to the drain cover.
 60. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the drain cover is of the non-tileable variety and is adapted to be interchangeable with drain covers of the tileable variety in such a fashion that any of the tiled, tileable and non tileable drain covers are vertically adjustable so that an upper surface thereof can be oriented so as to be substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the adjacent surface or fixture.
 61. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein any tiled, tileable, and nontileable drain covers used are adapted to be releasably associated with the drain body so as to provide access to the drain aperture and the waste water system and to permit different drain cover finishes and styles to be used with the surface or fixture.
 62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the tiled, tileable and/or non tileable drain covers are held in registry with the drain body through an attachment structure which allows the height of an upper surface of the drain cover to be adjusted to be positioned coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the surface or fixture.
 63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein vertical adjustment of the one or more drain covers is accomplished by the use of adjusting structure selected from the group consisting of shims, washers, ball and detent arrangement and threads.
 64. The drain apparatus of claim 50, further including a strainer attachable to the drain body.
 65. A prefabricated shower pan and concealed drain assembly, comprising: a prefabricated shower pan including a floor defining at least one drain opening; a drain cover, the drain cover defining at least one peripheral edge and which does not define any grate free area thereon; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture and structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain body; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal at least a portion of the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, and such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain body floor so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the prefabricated shower pan while substantially concealing the drain aperture; and wherein the drain top, grate or cover, and the shower pan floor, are covered with wall or flooring material, and wherein an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the prefabricated shower pan floor when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body.
 66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the prefabricated shower pan floor so that an upper surface of the drain top, grate, or cover when attached in substantial registry with the drain body is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the prefabricated shower pan floor, and a lower surface of the attached drain top, grate or cover and an upper surface of the drain body floor are spaced so that a sufficient gap is created so as to allow for water to drain therethrough into the drain aperture.
 67. A prefabricated shower pan and drain assembly, comprising: a prefabricated shower pan including a floor defining at least one drain opening; a drain top, grate or cover, the drain top, grate or cover defining a peripheral edge; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture; structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain assembly; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal at least a portion of the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, and such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain recess peripheral sidewall so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the prefabricated shower pan while substantially concealing the drain aperture wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the prefabricated shower pan floor so that an upper surface of the drain top, grate, or cover when attached to the drain body is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the prefabricated shower pan floor, and a lower surface of the attached drain cover and an upper surface of the drain body floor are spaced so that a sufficient gap is created so as to allow for water to drain therethrough into the drain aperture; wherein the drain top, grate or cover, and the prefabricated shower pan floor, are covered with wall or flooring material, and wherein an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the prefabricated shower pan floor when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body.
 68. A tiled prefabricated shower pan and tiled drain assembly, comprising: A prefabricated shower pan including a floor defining at least one drain opening; a drain cover, the drain cover defining at least one peripheral edge and which does not define any grate free area thereon; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture and structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain body; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal at least a portion of the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, and such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain body floor so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the prefabricated shower pan while substantially concealing the drain aperture; and wherein the cover and the prefabricated shower pan floor are covered with wall or flooring material, and wherein an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the prefabricated shower pan floor when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body.
 69. A tiled partially prefabricated shower pan and concealed drain assembly, comprising: a partially prefabricated shower pan including a floor defining at least one drain opening; a drain top, grate or cover, the drain cover defining at least one peripheral edge and which does not define any grate free area thereon; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture and structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain body; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal at least a portion of the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, and such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain body floor so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the partially prefabricated shower pan while substantially concealing the drain aperture; and wherein the drain cover, and the shower pan floor, are covered with wall or flooring material, and wherein an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the partially prefabricated shower pan floor when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body.
 70. The assembly of claim 69, wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the partially prefabricated shower pan floor so that an upper surface of the drain top, grate, or cover when attached in substantial registry with the drain body is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the partially prefabricated shower pan floor, and a lower surface of the attached drain cover and an upper surface of the drain body floor are spaced so that a sufficient gap is created so as to allow for water to drain therethrough into the drain aperture.
 71. A partially prefabricated shower pan and drain assembly, comprising: a partially prefabricated shower pan which defines a drain recess, the recess defined by a drain recess peripheral sidewall; a drain cover for a drain apparatus, the drain cover defining at least one peripheral edge and which does not define any grate free area thereon; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture and structure for releasably attaching the drain cover to the drain body; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain top, grate, or cover is spaced from the drain recess peripheral sidewall so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the partially prefabricated shower pan while substantially concealing the drain aperture; wherein the drain top, grate or cover, and the shower pan floor, are covered with wall or flooring material, and wherein an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the partially prefabricated shower pan floor when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body.
 72. A partially prefabricated shower pan and drain assembly, comprising: a partially prefabricated shower pan including a floor defining at least one drain opening; a drain cover, the drain cover defining a peripheral edge; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture; structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain assembly; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal at least a portion of the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, and such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain recess peripheral sidewall so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the partially prefabricated shower pan while substantially concealing the drain aperture wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the partially prefabricated shower pan floor so that an upper surface of the drain top, grate, or cover when attached to the drain body is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the partially prefabricated shower pan floor, and a lower surface of the attached drain cover and an upper surface of the drain body floor are spaced so that a sufficient gap is created so as to allow for water to drain therethrough into the drain aperture; wherein the drain cover, and the partially prefabricated shower pan floor, are covered with wall or flooring material, and wherein an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the partially prefabricated shower pan floor when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body.
 73. A mortar bed or other handmade shower pan floor and concealed drain assembly, comprising: a mortar bed or other handmade shower pan floor defining at least one drain opening; a drain top, grate or cover, the drain cover defining at least one peripheral edge and which does not define any grate free area thereon; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture and structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain body; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal at least a portion of the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, and such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain body floor so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the mortar bed or other handmade shower pan floor while substantially concealing the drain aperture; and wherein the drain cover, and the mortar bed or other shower pan floor, are covered with wall or flooring material, and wherein an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the mortar bed or other handmade shower pan floor when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body.
 74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the mortar bed or handmade shower pan floor so that an upper surface of the drain top, grate, or cover when attached in substantial registry with the drain body is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the mortar bed or other handmade shower pan floor, and a lower surface of the attached drain cover and an upper surface of the drain body floor are spaced so that a sufficient gap is created so as to allow for water to drain therethrough into the drain aperture.
 75. A mortar bed or other handmade shower pan floor and drain assembly, comprising: a mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor which defines a drain recess, the recess defined by a drain recess peripheral sidewall; a drain cover for a drain apparatus, the drain cover defining at least one peripheral edge and which does not define any grate free area thereon; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture and structure for releasably attaching the drain cover to the drain body; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain top, grate, or cover is spaced from the drain recess peripheral sidewall so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor while substantially concealing the drain aperture; wherein the drain top, grate or cover, and the mortar bed or other handmade shower pan floor, are covered with wall or flooring material, and wherein an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the shower pan floor when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body
 76. A mortar bed or other handmade shower pan floor and drain assembly, comprising: a mortar bed or other handmade shower pan floor including a floor defining at least one drain opening; a drain top, grate or cover, the drain cover defining a peripheral edge; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture; structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain assembly; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal at least a portion of the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, and such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain recess peripheral sidewall so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the prefabricated shower pan while substantially concealing the drain aperture wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the mortar bed or other handmade shower pan floor so that an upper surface of the drain top, grate, or cover when attached to the drain body is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor, and a lower surface of the attached drain cover and an upper surface of the drain body floor are spaced so that a sufficient gap is created so as to allow for water to drain therethrough into the drain aperture; wherein the drain top, grate or cover, and the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor, are covered with wall or flooring material, and wherein an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the mortar bed or other handmade shower pan floor when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body.
 77. A tiled mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor and tiled drain assembly, comprising: a mortar bed or other handmade shower pan floor including a floor defining at least one drain opening; a drain top, grate or cover, the drain cover defining at least one peripheral edge and which does not define any grate free area thereon; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture and structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain body; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal at least a portion of the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, and such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain body floor so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor while substantially concealing the drain aperture; wherein the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor and the drain cover are tileable; and wherein the drain top, grate or cover, and the mortar bed or other handmade shower pan floor, are covered with wall or flooring material, and wherein an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the mortar bed or other handmade shower pan floor when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body.
 78. A tiled surface or fixture and concealed drain assembly, comprising: a surface or fixture defining at least one drain opening; a drain cover, the drain cover defining at least one peripheral edge and which does not define any grate free area thereon; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture and structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain body; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal at least a portion of the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, and such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain body floor so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the tiled or tileable surface or fixture while substantially concealing the drain aperture; and wherein the drain cover, and the surface or fixture, are covered with wall or flooring material, and wherein an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the surface or fixture when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body.
 79. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the tiled or tileable surface or fixture so that an upper surface of the drain top, grate, or cover when attached in substantial registry with the drain body is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the tiled or tileable surface or fixture, and a lower surface of the attached drain cover and an upper surface of the drain body floor are spaced so that a sufficient gap is created so as to allow for water to drain therethrough into the drain aperture
 80. A tiled surface or fixture and drain apparatus, comprising: a surface or fixture which defines a drain recess, the recess defined by a drain recess peripheral sidewall; a drain cover, the drain cover defining at least one peripheral edge and which does not define any grate free area thereon; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture and structure for releasably attaching the drain cover to the drain body; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain recess peripheral sidewall so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the surface or fixture while substantially concealing the drain aperture; wherein the drain cover, and the surface or fixture, are covered with wall or flooring material, and wherein an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the tiled surface or fixture when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body.
 81. A tiled surface or fixture and drain assembly, comprising: a surface or fixture including a surface or fixture defining at least one drain opening; a drain cover, the drain cover defining a peripheral edge; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture; structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain body; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal at least a portion of the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, and such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain recess peripheral sidewall so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the tiled or tileable surface or fixture while substantially concealing the drain aperture wherein the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the tiled or tileable surface or fixture so that an upper surface of the drain top, grate, or cover when attached to the drain body is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the tiled or tileable surface or fixture, and a lower surface of the attached drain cover and an upper surface of the drain body floor are spaced so that a sufficient gap is created so as to allow for water to drain therethrough into the drain aperture; wherein the drain cover, and the surface or fixture, are covered with wall or flooring material, and wherein an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the tiled surface or fixture when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body.
 82. A tiled surface or fixture and tiled drain assembly, comprising: a surface or fixture including a floor defining at least one drain opening; a drain cover, the drain cover defining at least one peripheral edge and which does not define any grate free area thereon; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture and structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain body; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal at least a portion of the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, and such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain body floor so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the tiled or tileable surface or fixture while substantially concealing the drain aperture; and wherein the drain cover, and the surface or fixture, are covered with wall or flooring material, and wherein an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the wall or flooring material on the tiled surface or fixture when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body.
 83. A partially prefabricated shower pan and drain assembly, comprising: a partially prefabricated shower pan including a floor defining at least one drain opening; a drain cover, the drain cover defining a peripheral edge; a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture, and a mounting flange adapted to connect to a floor drain mounting collar; structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain body floor; the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal at least a portion of the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor, and such that when the drain cover is placed in registry with the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain body floor so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to exit the partially prefabricated shower pan while substantially concealing the drain aperture, and wherein the drain cover is also adapted to be at least partially covered with one or more type of wall or floor covering material.
 84. The assembly of claim 83, wherein the mounting flange defines one or more bolt receiving bores adapted to receive corresponding floor mounting bolts.
 85. The assembly of claim 83, wherein the shower pan floor comprises at least two sections adapted to be joined together to create a partially prefabricated shower pan floor during assembly of a shower.
 86. The assembly of claim 85, further comprising a drain flange shoulder defined by each pan floor section adapted to mate with the drain body between the drain body floor and the drain body mounting flange.
 87. The assembly of claim 83, further comprising wall or flooring material connected to the cover and the floor.
 88. The assembly of claim 86, further comprising wall or flooring material connected to the cover and the floor.
 89. The assembly of claim 85, further comprising a drain body mounting flange shoulder defined by each pan floor section adapted to mate with the drain body between the drain body and the floor drain mounting collar which by compression and water proofing forms a water tight seal with the multi piece shower pan floor.
 90. The assembly of claim 89, wherein the floor drain mounting collar is part of a floor drain unit of the clamping ring drain type or the compression drain type a.
 91. The assembly of claim 83, wherein the shower pan floor is one-piece and is adapted to create the partially prefabricated shower pan floor during assembly of a shower, and may be installed in conjunction with, or have integrated into it, one or more additional components including one or more curbs, a barrier free entrance, splash walls, a pitched floor, a mortar bed, and water proofing materials.
 92. The assembly of claim 91, wherein the drain flange shoulder fauns at least part of a drain aperture defined by the one piece floor.
 93. The assembly of claim 91, wherein the drain flange shoulder forms at least part of a drain aperture defined by the one piece floor and is adapted to mate with the drain body between the drain body and a clamping ring or collar of a drain such as a clamping ring drain or a compression drain.
 94. The assembly of claim 91, further comprising wall or flooring material connected to the cover and the floor pan.
 95. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the drain cover defines grate free area within itself.
 96. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the drain cover defines grate free area within itself.
 97. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the drain cover defines grate free area within itself.
 98. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the drain cover defines grate free area within itself.
 99. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the drain cover is comprised of two or more separate pieces.
 100. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the drain cover is comprised of two or more separate pieces.
 101. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the drain cover is comprised of two or more separate pieces.
 102. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the drain cover is comprised of two or more separate pieces.
 103. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein at least one piece of the two or more piece drain cover defines one or more grate free areas therein.
 104. The apparatus of claim 101, wherein at least one piece of the two or more piece drain cover defines one or more grate free areas therein.
 105. The apparatus of claim 102, wherein at least one piece of the two or more piece drain cover defines one or more grate free areas therein.
 106. The apparatus of claim 103, wherein at least one piece of the two or more piece drain cover defines one or more grate free areas therein. 